# Effect of spray-dried porcine plasma and plasma hydrolysate on the health and performance of mycotoxin-challenged piglets at weaning

## TL;DR

This study found that spray-dried porcine plasma improved piglet health and performance more than plasma hydrolysate when exposed to mycotoxins.

## Contribution

The study compares the efficacy of spray-dried porcine plasma and plasma hydrolysate in mitigating mycotoxin effects in piglets.

## Key findings

- Mycotoxins reduced body weight and increased oxidative stress in piglets.
- Spray-dried porcine plasma improved performance and showed antioxidant effects.
- Plasma hydrolysate increased feed intake but also induced pro-oxidant effects.

## Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) and hydrolysate plasma (HP) in the diets of post-weaning piglets challenged with mycotoxins (aflatoxin and fumonisin). The experiment lasted a total of 35 days, divided into three stages: pre-nursery I (d1-7), pre-nursery II (d8-14) and initial (d15-35). Seventy-two entire male piglets (26 days old) distributed in six treatments were tested, consisting of diets: T1 control (without SDPP, HP, and mycotoxins); T2 - with combined mycotoxins (300 ppb aflatoxin + 8.0 ppm fumonisin); T3 - with HP (pre-1–6%; pre-2–4%); T4 - with HP (pre-1–6%; pre-2–4%) + mycotoxins (300ppb aflatoxins + 8ppm fumonisin); T5 - with SDPP (pre-1–6%; pre-2–4%); T6 - with SDPP (pre-1–6%; pre-2–4%) + mycotoxins (300ppb aflatoxins + 8ppm fumonisin). Mycotoxins had a negative effect on performance, reducing body weight, and average daily gain (ADG) at days 15 to 35, in addition to increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and protein thiols (PSH) (p < 0.05). While SDPP increased body weight, ADG and daily feed intake (DFI), in addition to presenting an antioxidant effect (p < 0.05). Intake of HP increased DFI (d1 to 7; and d8 to 14), but induced an increase in ROS (d35) and TBARS at day 14 (p < 0.05). The addition of SDPP and HP to the mycotoxin-contaminated diet was unable to minimize or prevent the disorders caused by aflatoxin and fumonisin. The mycotoxins caused subclinical intoxication with alterations in sensitive biomarkers of cellular damage, and oxidative stress, in addition to compromising animal performance. SDPP group provided greater performance than HP group. While HP, despite increasing feed intake, appears to stimulate pro-oxidant variables. According to our results, appear that SDPP and HP have different properties, which resulted in different results for various performance and health biomarkers in piglets under mycotoxin contamination.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11250-026-04923-z.